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Microbial Fuel Cell as Battery Range Extender for Frugal IoT

Author

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  • Carlos Augusto Berlitz

    (CEA-Leti, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38000 Grenoble, France
    Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Andrea Pietrelli

    (Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Fabien Mieyeville

    (Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Gaël Pillonnet

    (CEA-Leti, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38000 Grenoble, France
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Bruno Allard

    (Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France
    Current Address: INSA Lyon, 21 avenue Jean Capelle Ouest, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France.
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The simplest DC/DC converter for supplying an Internet-of-Things device is definitely a switched-capacitor converter. The voltage from a mere 1.2 V battery may be stepped up to 2 V. A quite large operating frequency is required in order to reach the smallest possible output impedance value of the DC/DC converter. The overall efficiency is then limited even more so if the power area density of the system should be large. The article details how a microbial fuel cell may substitute one capacitor in the switched-capacitor converter, achieving a better efficiency at a much lower operating frequency. In that perspective, the microbial fuel cell acts as a kind of battery range extender. Some limitations exist that are discussed. A simple converter is experimentally evaluated to support the discussion. Substituting a microbial fuel cell inside a 100 μ W switched-capacitor converter compensates for losses in the order of 5% of efficiency. Moreover, the microbial fuel cell extends the lifespan of the battery, as 1.6 V output voltage is still possible when the battery voltage drops to 0.8 V. More than 94% efficiency is measured for a range of output power between 100 μ W and 1 mW, which is sufficient to address a lot of frugal IoT applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Augusto Berlitz & Andrea Pietrelli & Fabien Mieyeville & Gaël Pillonnet & Bruno Allard, 2023. "Microbial Fuel Cell as Battery Range Extender for Frugal IoT," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-15, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:18:p:6501-:d:1236267
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guoqing Jin & Lan Li & Yidan Xu & Minghui Hu & Chunyun Fu & Datong Qin, 2020. "Comparison of SOC Estimation between the Integer-Order Model and Fractional-Order Model Under Different Operating Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, April.
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